The Link Between Sound and Work Productivity

We’ve all been told the traditional advice on raising productivity at work: don’t multi-task, minimize interruptions, say no to meetings, set self-imposed deadlines, etc.

But what about the modification of environmental sound? Can improving work productivity really be as simple as playing particular types of sounds or music?

It turns out that both music and nature sounds have been found to have positive effects on the job.

Let’s begin with nature sounds.

Nature Sounds

The Acoustical Society of America presented findings showing that employees can get more done and feel more positive at work when nature sounds are playing in the background.

The study consisted of three sessions in the same room, where researchers had participants complete tests while listening to assorted soundscapes. Each session had a unique type of sound playing in the background, as follows:

First session: office sounds muffled by white noise

Second session: office sounds muffled by nature sounds

Third session: office sounds with no masking noise

The final results? The employees performed better on the tests when listening to nature sounds and also felt more positive about the setting and the job.

The nature sounds were also much preferred over the white noise even though white noise supplied a comparable masking effect.